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Effects of desiccation and controlled rehydration on germination in vitro of pollen of walnut ( Juglans spp.)
Author(s) -
LUZA J. G.,
POLITO V. S.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.1987.tb01826.x
Subject(s) - juglans , germination , pollen , botany , relative humidity , desiccation , moisture , agar , juglandaceae , horticulture , biology , chemistry , physics , genetics , organic chemistry , bacteria , thermodynamics
Moisture content and germination percentages on agar‐solidified medium were determined for pollen of Juglans regia and J. nigra at the time of release from anther and at 24‐h intervals until germination fell to zero. Moisture content of fresh J. regia pollen ranged from 4.6 to 12.1%, and from 3.9 to 4.0% for J. nigra pollen; in vitro germination percentages were uniformly high throughout these ranges. Germination declined as pollen moisture fell below 5% in J. regia with regression analyses predicting 50% germination at 3.9–4.4% moisture. After 4 d at ambient laboratory conditions, all pollen had lost the ability to germinate when incubated directly on medium. This pollen was incubated in chambers where humidity was maintained at saturation and 33% saturation, and retested. Pollen up to 22 d old and having moisture contents as low as 2.6% regained the ability to germinate in vitro when it was incubated in a water‐saturated environment before being placed on the agar‐solidified medium.